Children and Young People

In the last one hundred years, the
dichotomy between mind and body has increasingly been found to
be unhelpful and not based on scientific evidence. On the one hand,
children and young people with medical illnesses are at an
increased risk for emotional disorders. At times, the emotional and
behavioral symptoms can be the early manifestation of the medical
illness. On the other hand, with increased recognition and
survival, treatment of medical conditions in young persons having a
psychiatric/neuro-developmental disorder such as autism, can prove
to be a challenge in itself. Integrated working between
general practitioners, generalist and specialist
paediatricians, psychologists, child psychiatrists,
specialist nursing staff and other professionals is encouraged
while looking after young people with chronic physical,
neurodevelopmental or life threatening illnesses.

This has been particularly emphasised in the
care of young people with diabetes, cancer, respiratory conditions
and epilepsy. There is growing evidence base to support this in
terms of improving treatment adherence, treating procedural
anxieties and improve coping with the illness within the family.
This website is aimed at helping young people, professionals, and
commissioners to understand this complex interface of care and
point them towards existing resources in the internet across the
world.